Nectarine tree named ‘June Candy’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree,  Prunus persica , and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium sized, vigorous, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in late June, with first picking on Jun. 24, 1999. The fruit is uniformly large in size, subacidic and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, clingstone in type, firm and crisp in texture, and fully red in skin color. The variety was a first generation cross using an unnamed white flesh nectarine as the selected seed parent and Ruby Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,918) as the selected pollen parent.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of fresh market and shipping fruits, I, the inventor, typically hybridize a large number of nectarine and peach seedlings each year. The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree (Prunus persica), which has been denominated varietally as ‘JUNE CANDY’. The present variety was hybridized in 1992, grown as a seedling on its own root in the greenhouse, and transplanted to a cultivated area of my experimental orchard at Bradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley). It was developed as a first generation cross using an unnamed white flesh nectarine as the selected seed parent and Ruby Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,918) as the selected pollen parent. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of nectrine tree, I asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting, in the experimental orchard described above, and such reproduction of plant and fruit characteristics were true to the original plant in all respects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of Nemaguard Rootstock (unpatented), the standard of the stone fruit industry in central California, upon which the present variety was compatible and true to type.

The present variety is most similar to Spring Sweet (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,962) nectarine, by producing fruit that is full red in skin color, yellow in flesh color, subacidic in flavor, clingstone in type and firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruit that is sweeter in flavor, that is larger in size and that ripens seven days earlier.

The present variety is similar to its seed parent, Ruby Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,923) nectarine, by producing firm, full red, yellow flesh nectarines, but is very distinguished therefrom by producing fruit that is clingstone instead of freestone in type, that is subacidic instead of acidic in flavor, and that ripens about 15 days earlier.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned to display the characteristics of the skin color and form, one fruit divided transversely to the suture plane to reveal the flesh and stone, and typical leaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics of this new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has been observed of a 5 year-old tree grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand, Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at the state of hard shipping ripe on Jun. 28, 1999. However, during 1999 most stone fruit varieties in California ripened approximately ten days later than normal. All major color code designations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

TREE

Size: Medium, reaching and maintaining a height of 9′ [2.74 meters] after the 5th growing season utilizing typical dormant pruning.

Vigor: Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and fertilization. The plant should be grown on a standard commercial rootstock for production purposes. The variety grows about 3′ [0.91 meters] of surplus top-growth during the spring and summer.

Growth: Upright and dense.

Form: Vase formed.

Hardiness: Hardy with respect to typical central California winters.

Production: Productive, thinning required.

Fertility: Self-fertile.

Bearing: Regular bearer, with no alternate bearing observed.

Trunk:

Size.—Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 4″ [102 mm.] after 5 growing seasons.

Texture.—Somewhat shaggy.

Bark color.—Grayish brown [61. gy.Br].

Lenticels.—Numerous. Color: Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr]. Typical Size: {fraction (3/16)}″ to {fraction (7/16)}″ [4.8-11.1 mm.].

Branches:

Size.—Medium, typical of Prunus persica.

Texture.—Smooth on 1st year wood, increasing roughness with age.

Color.—1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st Year Wood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Older Wood: Moderate brown [58. m.Br.].

Lenticels.—Numerous, small. Color: Strong orange yellow [68. s.OY]. Size: {fraction (1/16)}″ to {fraction (3/16)}″ [1.6-4.8 mm.].

Leaves:

Size.—Large. Average Length: 6″ [152.4 mm.]. Average Width: 1{fraction (9/16)}″ [39.7 mm.].

Thickness.—Medium.

Form.—Elliptical.

Apex.—Acuminate.

Base.—Acute.

Surface.—Smooth.

Color.—Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].

Margin.—Finely serrate.

Venation.—Pinnately net veined.

Petiole.—Average Length: {fraction (7/16)}″ [11.1 mm.]. Average Thickness: {fraction (1/16)}″ [1.6 mm.]. Color: Light yellow green [119. l.YG].

Stipules.—2 per leaf bud, up to 6 at the growing tip. Average Length: ⅜″ [9.5 mm.].

Glands.—Numbers: 2 to 5 per leaf. Position: Alternately positioned on petiole and base of blade. Size: Medium. Form: Reniform. Color: Grayish red [19. gy.R].

Flower buds:

Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to central California winters.

Diameter.—Typically ⅜″ [9.5 mm.] 1 week before bloom.

Length.—Typically ¾″ [19.1 mm.] 1 week before bloom.

Form.—Not appressed.

Color.—Brilliant purplish pink [246. brill. p. Pk.].

Surface.—Pubescent.

Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil, typically thirty or more stamens, five sepals and petal locations alternately positioned.

Blooming period.—Somewhat later than average.

Onset of bloom.—One percent on Mar. 9, 1999.

Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient temperature.

Type.—Showy.

Number per cluster.—Generally from 1 to 3.

Number of petals.—Usually five, but a few doubles.

Petal shape.—Rounded.

Petal margin.—Slightly wavy.

Average petal diameter.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].

Petal color.—Light purplish pink [249. l.pPk].

Anther color.—Dark red [16. d.R] when first opened.

Average pistil length.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].

Fragrance.—Strong when nectar is present.

Average diameter.—1⅞″ [47.6 mm.].

FRUIT

Maturity when described: Hard shipping ripe, Jun. 28, 1999, noting the 1999 ripening season was delayed about ten days later than normal.

Date of first picking: Jun. 24, 1999.

Date of last picking: Jul. 8, 1999.

Size: Uniform, large.

Average diameter axially.—2¾″ [69.9 mm.].

Average diameter across suture plane.—2¾″ [69.9 mm.].

Typical weight.—6.70 ounces [190 grams].

Form: Globose, uniform, mostly symmetrical.

Longitudinal section form.—Round.

Transverse section through diameter.—Round.

Suture: A shallow groove extending from the stem cavity to the apex with a depression beyond the pistial point.

Ventral surface: Rounded.

Lips: Slightly unequal.

Cavity: Flaring, circular, suture showing on one side, stem markings typical.

Depth.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].

Breadth.—⅞″ [22.2 mm.].

Base: Rounded to somewhat truncate.

Apex: Rounded.

Pistil point: Both apical and oblique, very short, depressed within the suture.

Stem: Medium.

Average length.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].

Average width.—{fraction (3/16)}″ [4.8 mm.].

Skin:

Thickness.—Medium.

Texture.—Medium.

Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.—None observed.

Color.—Very dark red [17. v.d.R] blending into a moderate red orange [37. m.rO] background with brilliant orange yellow [67. brill.OY] stem markings and deep orange yellow [69. deep OY] freckling toward the apex.

Flesh:

Color.—Brilliant orange yellow [67. brill.OY] with a some dark red [16. d.R] flecking toward the skin, along the suture and very close to the stone.

Surface of pit cavity.—Both brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] and moderate red [15. m.R] fibers breaking when twisted away from the stone.

Amygdalin.—Source.

Juice.—Moderate, rich.

Texture.—Firm, crisp.

Fibers.—Abundant, fine.

Ripens.—Somewhat earliest at the apex.

Flavor.—Subacidic and sweet, typically 17 brix.

Aroma.—Very slight.

Eating quality.—Excellent.

STONE

Type: Clingstone.

Form: Oval.

Base: Straight.

Apex: Acute.

Hilum: Narrow.

Sides: Equal.

Surface: Irregularly furrowed toward the apex with pitting only toward the base.

Ridges: Jagged toward the base.

Color: Light brown [57. l.Br] when first removed from the fruit.

Pit wall: ¼″ [6.4 mm.] thick.

Tendency to split: Very slight.

Kernel:

Form.—Oval.

Taste.—Bitter.

Viable.—Yes.

Averge width.—{fraction (17/32)}″ [13.5 mm.].

Average length.—{fraction (13/16)}″ [20.6 mm.].

Pellicle color.—Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr].

Skin color.—Pale yellow [89. p.Y] with moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr] veins when first removed from stone.

Amygdalin.—Abundant.

USE

Market: Fresh and long distnace shipping.

Keeping quality: Fruit quality observed to remain in good condition in excess of 30 days in cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2° Celsius].

Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the described characteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected that variations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas with different climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varying cultural practices. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and desribed, that is most similar to Spring Sweet (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,962) nectarine, by producing fruit that is full red in skin color, yellow in flesh color, subacidic in flavor, clingstone in type and firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruit that is sweeter in flavor, that is larger in size and that ripens 7 days earlier. 